More than 80 per cent of doctors in Pakistan are physically and mentally exhausted, with many dying younger than the general population due to sudden cardiac arrests, health experts have warned.
Only one in ten doctors remains physically active, highlighting a severe decline in physician wellbeing.
Senior cardiologists and mental health specialists say physicians are increasingly suffering from lifestyle-related illnesses, extreme burnout, and, in some cases, suicide, as they continue to neglect their own health while caring for others.
The alarming findings were presented at Life in a Metro, a nationwide academic forum organized under Mediverse, an initiative by Hudson Pharma.
Data shared at the forum revealed that nearly six out of ten physicians in Pakistan experience significant burnout. Suicide rates among doctors were reported to be almost double those of the general population.
Despite the severity of the crisis, only about one-third of affected doctors seek professional medical or psychological help.
Addressing the forum, Dr. Rehan Omer Siddiqi, an interventional cardiologist and internal medicine specialist, said physician burnout has quietly reached crisis levels across the country.
Referring to regional and international evidence, Dr. Siddiqi explained that long working hours, chronic sleep deprivation, poor dietary habits, physical inactivity, and constant psychological pressure are pushing doctors toward early heart disease, diabetes, depression, and substance misuse.
Experts warned that unless systemic changes are made to address working conditions and physician well-being, the health crisis among doctors is likely to worsen.
